Veteran goalkeeper Dave Beasant turned on the heroics at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium to help Nottingham Forest maintain their place on top of the Division One table.

Beasant has more often than not been remembered for his blunders during a career which has taken in Wimbledon, Newcastle, Chelsea and Southampton, but last night he was at his brilliant best.

The 38-year-old, fast approaching the `golden-oldie' stage of his career alongside Everton's Neville Southall and Coventry's Steve Ogrizovic, left Mikkel Beck a frustrated man by denying the Danish international striker with three breathtaking saves.

Forest have not been beaten on Boro's home turf since 1973 and although they now hold a one-point lead over second-placed West Brom.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Maddison, Festa (Harrison 90), Vickers, Pearson, Emerson, Hignett (Ormerod 67), Summerbell, Beck, Merson, Townsend. Subs Not Used: Freestone. Booked: Ormerod.

Nottm Forest: Beasant, Lyttle, Rogers, Cooper, Chettle, Hjelde, Stone, Gemmill, Van Hooijdonk, Campbell, Bart-Williams. Subs Not Used: Woan, Pascolo, Moore. Booked: Campbell, Bart-Williams. Att: 30,143.

Referee: D Laws (Whitley Bay).